An Asian plant may help prevent insulin resistance

Foods rich in fats and cholesterol are delicious but they are also very dangerous to person’s health. To counteract the effects of these foods, prescription drugs are commonly used. However, the adverse side effects associated with these drugs are causing people to consider natural alternatives that are safer. A group of researchers from Universiti Putra Malaysia discovered that the Sabah snake grass (Clinacanthus nutans) can effectively reduce metabolic changes caused by high fat and high cholesterol diet. This finding, which was published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, was discovered through in vivo evaluation of the effects of Sabah snake grass extracts.

Excessive consumption of foods that are rich in fats and cholesterol causes the enlargement of adipose tissue. This leads to the release of adipocytokines that increase insulin resistance and alter lipid metabolism.

Insulin resistance occurs due to defects in receptor binding or reduced levels of insulin receptors since without binding, there is no insulin activity.

In this study, the effects of Sabah snake grass extract on male Sprague–Dawley rats that were given a high fat and high cholesterol diet were observed. The researchers considered parameters including weight and levels of insulin resistance biomarkers.

The results of this study prove that Sabah snake grass can be used to treat insulin resistance since it can prevent alterations caused by high fat and high cholesterol diet on insulin signaling genes. This activity of Sabah snake grass can be attributed to the presence of protocatechuic acid and chlorogenic acid.